41. Matrimony

1. Man is by nature both gregarious and political. And, asAristotle says (Ethic. viii 12), he is more stronglyinclined by nature to connubial society than to political society.In a word, man has not only a tendency (as all living bodies have)to propagate his kind, and (as herd animals do) to live with hiskind, he has a tendency to the stable unions of marriage,family, and state. Thus, marriage belongs to thedomain of the natural law. The conjugal union of marriage is aninstitution of nature.

2. The majority of men are called to this conjugal union,but it is not imposed upon each individual as a duty. That manyshould marry is necessary for the common good. Yet the same commongood requires that some should be devoted to the contemplativelife, to which marriage with its duties is a great obstacle.Besides, we have ample teaching in scripture of the excellence ofvirginity; chastity is one of the counsels of perfection. Hence,not all individuals are required to marry. The natural law isobserved if a sufficient number marry to maintain and propagate therace.

3. The conjugal act of man and wife is by no means sinful.Scripture (I Cor. 7:3) says: "Let the husband render the debtto his wife." The opinion that the marital action is sinful isboth mistaken and heretical.

4. The marital act rightly performed by man and wife is anact of virtue, and therefore is a meritorious act.

"It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides.
" Thomas á Kempis

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"God commands not impossibilities, but by commanding he suggests to you to do what you can, to ask for what is beyond your strength; and he helps you, that you may be able." St Augustine

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"Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God." Thomas á Kempis